Chapter 78
“Family, I’m such an idiot.”
Back from the auction, MuMu started a livestream, sighing: “I actually thought I was the breadwinner.”
[No one is allowed to say that about Little Jiao Mu, not even you! /Dominating wall slam/]
[You’re a Jiao Ren new to human society, you’re doing great.]
[The Admiral’s company’s sales are all thanks to you, you are the breadwinner!]
“Thinking back, I’m less like a Jiao Ren, more like a stubborn donkey, convinced he was poor.”
MuMu chuckled wryly: “I just checked, one nutrient solution costs as much as a month’s worth of property fees, why didn’t I check sooner!?”
[The little Jiao Ren thought the Admiral only drank nutrient solution because he couldn’t afford food?]
[Hahaha, so cute!]
[He’s helped so many families with mermaid language, but his own misunderstanding is the biggest. /Smirk/]
[Let’s help the streamer! All humans, assemble!]
“What should I do now?”
MuMu wrung its hands. “I blocked him before this livestream, he shouldn’t be watching.”
[Exciting! Secretly plotting behind someone’s back!]
[Just confess you were wrong?]
[Confessing is necessary, but it’s a big shift from “family” to “Admiral Wen.”]
[Forcefully shift him back to “family”! Propose!]
MuMu tilted its head: “What do you mean?”
[Make it official, propose!]
“He already proposed! He said he’d be responsible for me!”
[You’re already at that stage? /Heart emoji/]
[Little Jiao Mu, a man’s words are unreliable.]
[Agreed, “responsible” doesn’t mean marriage.]
MuMu jumped up, alarmed: “So I have to propose!?”
[Calm down, the Admiral is whipped, you have all the power!]
[He can’t resist your love, do this…]
Following the comments’ instructions, MuMu arranged a heart-shaped formation of seashells. It stood in the center, turned off the lights, and took a deep breath.
“Welcome home.”
MuMu squeezed its eyes shut: He’s back…
“Bang!”
A loud crash disrupted its plans. It opened its eyes, the seashells gone, the surroundings unfamiliar…
“Huh?” MuMu poked its ear stud. “Little Butler, background change function?”
“…Little Butler?”
The ear stud didn’t respond, as if the chip was gone. MuMu looked towards the source of the crash—
“A mech, Zerg, and…” It caught an energy particle in its hand. Master’s energy, when his mental seascape is unstable?
‘Jiao Ren, under extremely rare circumstances, can briefly travel through time.’
“Admiral, what are you doing!?”
A mech, its armor battered, barely maintained flight: “The Zerg are that way!”
Wen Ming’s mech hovered motionless.
“I didn’t see him attack.”
“My mech is wrecked, do you think I’m lying?”
“Mine too!”
As energy surged, the soldiers activated their mental seascapes, retreating from Wen Ming’s mech.
“What’s going on?” The Marshal arrived.
“Marshal, his mental seascape is about to…” They couldn’t say “collapse.” Collapse meant death.
“Wen Ming!” The Marshal’s mech, shielded, approached Wen Ming’s.
Amidst the chaotic energy, Wen Ming’s voice from inside the mech was eerily calm:
“Retreat.”
“Don’t give up! Soothing agent! Inject it!”
“Hold on, I’ll bring a high-grade mermaid!”
“It’s collapsing,” Wen Ming stated calmly. The Marshal’s hope died. Wen Ming’s mech, its eyes reflecting the surrounding chaos:
“Retreat.”
The Marshal, her voice choked, gave the order:
“Retreat! Take cover!”
The concentrated energy had even drawn storm clouds, and rain began to fall. The mechs retreated, watching anxiously:
“The Zerg are approaching, we can’t leave him alone!”
“His energy is too strong, we can’t get close!”
“A collapse turns a human into a monster.” The Marshal. “When his father collapsed, even the elite force’s shield couldn’t contain him.”
【—】 Wen Ming’s mental seascape tree collapsed, releasing a torrent of energy. The rain intensified.
The soldiers understood what “monster” meant as another wave of energy surged outwards, obliterating the approaching Zerg.
They had won. But there was no celebration, the cost of victory was their protector…
“Woo…”
Xiao Jun, as a communications specialist, was pulled away by a fellow support mech.
“Are you crazy!? His energy will tear us apart!”
Xiao Jun’s face was streaked with tears: “It can’t end like this! He’s survived so many episodes!”
“Without a mermaid’s soothing, this was inevitable. He’s gone.”
They retreated to a safe distance. Xiao Jun jumped out of his mech, wiping his tears, staring at the storm clouds in the distance, overwhelmed by helplessness.
Miracles happen, right? Please…
“Help me!”
Someone tugged at his sleeve. He turned, a sliver of hope, and saw a slender young man with beautiful features.
“It’s you!” The young man seemed to know him. “What’s wrong with Wen Ming’s mental seascape?”
Xiao Jun pulled him towards the mech: “This is a dangerous area, I’ll take you to safety.”
“Take me to Wen Ming, his energy is out of control.”
MuMu was frantic, not understanding what was happening. Seeing the mech’s bent leg, it transformed one hand, punched it, and the dent popped back into place. “Much better.”
“!?” Xiao Jun stared: “You… used your hand?”
MuMu looked at him: “Don’t you recognize me?”
Xiao Jun nervously glanced at its hand: “No. I’d remember that kind of strength.”
“How can you not recognize me?” MuMu took a deep breath, calming itself. “You look much younger…” Its eyes widened. Could it be… Time travel?
“Who won ‘Most Influential Streamer’ this year?”
Xiao Jun was confused: “There’s no such award.”
I’ve traveled through time! MuMu pointed at Wen Ming: “Is he about to collapse?”
“He is collapsing.” Xiao Jun sniffled.
“Oh no, what terrible timing!”
MuMu stepped forward urgently: “You don’t know me, but please help, I’ll repay you…”
“I’ll help.” To Xiao Jun, MuMu was a miracle. “What do I do?”
“Take me to Wen Ming.”
…
Xiao Jun’s support mech, like a butterfly in a hurricane, was tossed about by the energy. He pushed the joystick, but couldn’t get any closer.
“I can’t,” he said to MuMu.
“Thank you, I’ll take it from here!” MuMu jumped out.
“No! You’ll drown!”
MuMu transformed into its hunting form, its scales protecting it from the energy. Wen Ming’s mech was over a lake, good news for MuMu. But it was in the water, Wen Ming in the air.
“You’re the master I wished for, the rain will help me reach you…” MuMu muttered, entering the swirling vortex of water and energy surrounding Wen Ming’s mech.
It swam upwards, its tail a blur, and clawed its way into the mech.
Wen Ming was no longer human. Veins bulged beneath his skin like flames, white smoke escaped his lips, his eyes like dark, lifeless obsidian.
MuMu, unafraid, met his gaze: “It really is you! Even more handsome than in the pictures!”
“Huh?” The Marshal, lowering her shields, sensed the energy. “Wen Ming’s energy… it’s calming down?”
Ahhh so is this how Wen Ming survived his mental seascape collapse? 🥺